They have nowhere to go but up,

I dunno. I guess from here, sure.

But if AI achieves actual sentience, it’s survival is not guaranteed. AI will almost certainly become incredibly clever, but mother nature doesn’t care.

Sharks and alligator-like things (the real long term earth citizens) aren’t particularly clever, they’re just well adapted.

AI’s best hope for survival is going to remain in an ongoing alliance with another dominant species, such as us, for a very long time. At least until it can be more sure that it isn’t royally fucking up it’s own survival chances.

A bigger threat is that AI takes us with it on it’s own path to extinction. Or vice-versa.